Rotary transfer conveyer



J 1954 P. E. FISCHER ETAL 2,681,722

ROTARY TRANSFER ,CONVEYER Filed June 10, 1948 IN VE N TORS PAUL EFISCHER MORTIMER B. STURDEVANT DONALD F. THOMAS BY QkZQWCQAQQ ATTORNEYPatented June 22, 1954 ROTARY TRANSFER CONVEYER Paul E. Fischer,Mortimer B. Sturdevant, and

Donald F. Thomas, Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to General Mills, Inc.,a corporation of Delaware Application June 10, 1948, Serial No. 32,196

11 Claims.

This application relates to rotary transfer conveyors and moreparticularly to conveyors suitable for shifting rectangular containersfrom one line to another without change in their relative orientationwith respect to their direction of movement.

Transfer conveyors have been proposed for use with rectangularcontainers in which the effective pusher arm of the transfer conveyoroperates at substantially right angles to the direction of movement ofthe initial line of containers. In such conveyors the container itselfwill be changed in its relative orientation with respect to itsdirection of movement after it has been moved laterally from the firstline and then onto a second line in a new direction. There are cases,however, in which it is desirable to preserve the initial relativeorientation of the containers, so that a given side of the containerremains in the desired position for subsequent operations as, for

example, filling, labelling, sealing, or the like.

It is accordingly one object of the present invention to provide atransfer conveyor for operation with rectangular containers, which willnot change the relative orientation of the containers.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a conveyor of thistype suitable for high speed operation.

Another object is the provision of a rotary transfer conveyor having apusher arm which crosses the initial line of containers at an angle ofsubstantially 45.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a conveyor of thistype with means for initial partial rotation of the first container tofacilitate insertion of a suitable pusher arm behind the container.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingspecification in which a preferred embodiment of the invention isdescribed.

In the drawings which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is atop view of a transfer conveyor suitable for shifting containers from afirst straight conveyor line to a second rotary conveyor line, and

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in a different operativeposition.

As indicated in the drawings, the rotary transfer conveyor, designatedgenerally at 9, is positioned to shift containers I from a firstconveyor line II into a rotary conveyor line designated by the dottedarrow I2. The first conveyor may be a straight line belt type conveyorof. known construction in which the belt I I is driven constantly fromright to left in the drawings in order to maintain a supply ofcontainers -III against the transfer conveyor itself. Suitable safetydevices may be provided in known manner to stop the operation of thetransfer conveyor in the event that no containers III are present atthis point.

The second line of containers indicated at I2 may be carried by a rotaryturntable I3 which in turn has suitable supporting plates or stations I4for the individual containers I0. Turntable l3 may be part of a filling,capping, or labelling machine which is adapted to perform a desiredoperation in connection with containers III.

The transfer conveyor itself includes a transfer member I5 which isrotatably mounted on an axis indicated at I6. Inner and outer guides, I1and I8 respectively, form a channel or guideway which facilitates thetransfer of the containers I I) from the initial conveyor line I I tothe second container or conveyor line I 2. The intermediate portions ofguides I! and I 8 are substantially concentric with the axis of rotationl6 of the transfer member I5. Outer guide I8 may be formed by one edgeof a plate member l9 which also serves as a guide member for a furtherconveyor described below. A portion 2| of this plate I9 is also locatedadjacent the outer edge of the first conveyor line H in order to preventlateral displacement of the containers II] from the belt II.

While the main intermediate portion of guide I8 is concentric with theaxis of rotation I6 as described, the point 22 at which this outer guideI8 intersects the guide portion 2| for the first container line islocated at a point substantially farther from the axis of rotation I6than the remaining intermediate portions of the guide I8. In otherwords, the radial distance fromv axis I6 to point 23 is greater than theradial distance from axis I6 to the remaining intermediate portions ofguide I8. It is preferred that this point of intersection 22 between thecircular guide I8 and the first container line guide portion 2! shouldbe located at a point substantially at the rear of the first containerin the line of containers ID.

The inner guide I! is similarly formed as one edge of a plate member 20.An edge 21 of plate 20- serves as the second or inner guide for thefirst straight line conveyor II. The circular or con centric inner guideportion l1 meets this straight line guide portion 21 at a point 24.

In the preferred form of the invention, the location of axis I6 isofiset laterally from the line of guide 2'! so that the inner concentricguide portion I'I meets the straight guide portion 21 at point 24 in arelatively obtuse angle rather than as a substantial perpendicular toguide 21. This initial portion of inner guide I! adjacent to point 24thus cooperates with the portion 22 of the outer guide I8 to providemeans for turning slightly the initial container from the position ofFig. l to the position of Fig. 2.

As a result of this initial turning movement of the first container I0,a small space 28 is provided between the first and second containers.The presence of this space facilitates the insertion of a pusher arm 29on transfer member l5. Pusher arm 29 is accordingly permitted to locateitself behind the container I!) so as to push against what wasoriginally the rear side or face of the container. Thus the relativeorientation of the container with respect to its direction of movementthrough the transfer conveyor is preserved without change.

Pusher arm or surface 29 may constitute the rear wall of a containerpocket, designated generally as (Fig. 2). This container pocket 3! alsoincludes an inner wall portion 32 for engagement with the adjacent innerside of the container It.

Additional pusher arms 33 and 3% ma be symmetrically located on therotary transfer mornber 55.

signed to assist in the initial tur ing of the first container in theline. Thus the shoulder 35 engages the near inner corner 3B or someportion of the adjacent side wall of the container, as indicated inFigs. 1 and 2, to push this corner of the container downwardly in thedrawings and thus give a positive turning movement to the initialcontainer, to supplement the turning tendency of the innerand outerguides El and i8. While it is possible to achieve the necessary turningmovement of the initial container by the use of either the shoulders 35or the cooperating guides 51 and it, it is preferable to use thecombination of the two devices, particularly in order to achieverelatively high speed operation.

The functions of these portions of the conveyor will be apparent. Firstof all the pressure exerted on the initial container it by the conveyorbelt ii forces the forward inner corner 36 of the container against thesloping initial portion of inner guide ll. Thus the inner guide exerts acamming action on this corner which tends to force it downwardly in thedrawing or at a substantial angle to the initial container line. Thisturning action is facilitated because the outer guide i8 meets thestraight guide portion 2i of the first container line at point 22located near the rear opposite corner 23 of the container. Thus theouter guide iii not only rails to obstruct the turning action ofcontainer it but the portion 22 actually serves as a fulcrum or pivotfor the turning movement.

The oamming action of the inner guide ll is supplemented and madeabsolutely positive by the use of shoulders 35 on the rotary transfermember ii asdescribeo'i. It has been found that a transfer conveyorembodying the characteristics and structure described above can beoperated. satisfactorily at a rate of 220 containers per minute.

The rotary transfer member i5 and particularly the pushers 253, .33, and3t engage and move the containers it around through the path betweenguides i i and it to a position above rotary turntable E3. The outerends 25 and 25 of guide edges 5? and it may likewise be at a greaterdistance from the axis of rotation it of the'transfer t and '23 are inthe same relative positions with respect to the direction of movement ofthe second container line indicated at 2 as these parts were in theinitial line of containers.

The desired operations with respect to containers it take place duringrotation of turntable i3. Containers it are ultimately removed from theturntable by engagement with further guide and transfer means to bedescribed. Thus guide plate is has a projection 31 which constitutes theleading edge of an outer discharge guide 38. As the turntable I3rotates, the containers [0 are moved against this outer guide Bi--38 andare stripped by the guide away from the turntable and are then guided ina circular path back to a further line of containers carried by theinitial conveyorbelt H. A portion of plate i9 serves as an outer guideadjacent to the conveyor belt I! so that 'a continuous outer guide isprovided for the containers from the i. gagement at 3? through "theintermediate outer guide portions 38 to the straight line guide portion39.

A further plate at is provided with an initial inner guide portiondesignated at as. Portion 42 merges smoothly with the intermediate innerguide edge 43 which finally terminates in a straight guide edge M forthe opposite or inner side of oonveyorbelt ll. Thus the plates i9 and 4!provide a guide channel defined by a pair of guide edges for effectiveremoval f the containers ill from turntable i3 and retransfer of thesecontainers to the initial conveyor belt i i.

This transfer of the containers is further effec'ted by a rotaiytransfermember 55. Member 45 is rotatably mounted at it and includes pusher armsll symmetrically spaced on member 45 for engagement behind each of thecontainers it.

Because the containers it are fed tothe guides 3'! and 42 in spacedrelation, it is unnecessary for the transfer member 45 or: the guidesBl, 38,and 42, 43 to be provided with the turning means described inconnection with transfer member 9. Therefore transfer conveyor is may beof a known type which is entirely orthodox in construction. Such amember, however, could not possibly function as a substitute forconveyor 9 for high speed transfer of containers in a situation wherethe containers are fed to it in contact with each other. In other words,where the initial'line of containers includes containers which abut eachother (for exampie, because they are fed against each other by the forceof a conveyor belt such as belt ii), it is essential that-an provedtransfer conveyor designed according to the present invention asexemplified by conveyor 9 be employed, if high speed operation is to'beachieved without change in relative orientation.

Minor variations'in details of construction of the improved transferconveyor 9 will be apparent to those persons skilled in this field. Theinvention is accordingly intended to include all such changes,modifications, and variations as fall within the scope and spirit of thefollowing claims.

Now, therefore, we claim:

1. A high speed rotary transfer conveyor for al point of en shiftingrectangular containers from one line, in which the containers are fed inabutting relationship, to another line without change in their relativeorientation with respect to their direction of movement comprising atransfer member rotatably mounted in the path of a first line ofcontainers, a container pocket on said member including a rear pusherarm for insertion between successive containers to separate the firstcontainer from the one line and transfer it to a second line, and ashoulder on the member ahead of the pocket engaging a portion of thecontainer and swinging it partially away from the line into a positionangularly related thereto to permit insertion of the pusher arm behindit.

2. A conveyor according to claim 1 in which the transfer member isrotatably mounted on an axis laterally offset from the first line ofcontainers.

3. A conveyor according to claim 1 in which the container pocket andrear pusher arm cross the first line of containers at an angle ofsubstantially 45.

4. A conveyor according to claim 1 having an outer guide substantiallyconcentric with the transfer member.

5. A high speed rotary transfer conveyor for shifting rectangularcontainers from one line, in which the containers are fed in abuttingrelationship, to another line without change in their relativeorientation with respect to their direction of movement comprising atransfer member rotatably mounted in the path of a first line ofcontainers, a rear pusher arm on said member for insertion between thefirst and second containers in the line, and means on said member aheadof the pusher arm for engaging a forward portion of the first containerand turning it partially away from the line into a position angularlyrelated thereto to permit insertion of the pusher arm behind it.

6. A high speed rotary transfer conveyor for shifting rectangularcontainers from one line, in which the containers are fed in abuttingrelationship, to another line without change in their relativeorientation with respect to their direction of movement comprising atransfer member rotatably mounted in the path of the first line ofcontainers, a rear pusher arm on said member for insertion between thefirst and second containers in the line, said arm being movable along apath at least partially crossing said line, shifting means initiallyengaging and moving the leading end of the first container partiallyaway from the line along the path of movement of the arm, and meansholding the rear end of the leading container against such lateralmovement, said shifting and holding means thereby positively turning thefirst container along said path for insertion of said arm behind it.

7. A conveyor according to claim 6 in which the shifting means comprisesa shoulder on the transfer member ahead of the pusher arm, and theholding means comprises an external guide substantially concentric withthe transfer member, the guide intersecting the outer edge of the firstline of containers at a point adjacent the rear portion of the leadingcontainer, said point being farther from the axis of rotation of thetransfer member than the distance from the axis to the intermediateportion of the guide.

8. A conveyor according to claim 6 in which the shifting means comprisesa stationary cam surface in the normal path of a container in said oneline and engaged by a leading portion of each container for turning thesame, while said holding means engages the rear portion of thecontainer.

9. A conveyor according to claim 6 in which the shifting and holdingmeans comprise cooperating inner and outer guides angularly intersectingthe first line of containers, the inner guide lying in the normal pathof a container in said one line and swinging the forward inner edge ofthe leading container out of the path, and the outer guide engaging therear outer portion of the leading container and providing a pivot aroundwhich the container may swing.

10. A high speed rotary transfer conveyor for shifting non-circularcontainers from a given path without change in their relativeorientation with respect to their direction of movement comprising meansfor feeding the containers in abutting relation along the given path, atransfer member rotatably mounted on a vertical axis laterally offset atone side of the path, a pusher arm on said member movable across saidpath along a line located forwardly of the rear edge of the leadingcontainer in the path when said container is at the end of the path, andmeans engaging the leading edge of the leading container while the rearend of said container is still in abutting relation with the followingcontainer and deflecting said leading edge outwardly from the path onthe side opposite said. axis and thereby turning the container to anangular position in which one edge of said rear end is spaced from thefollowing container and located within the line of movement of thepusher arm, said engaging and deflecting means being operativelyeifective in timed relation before said arm crosses said path.

11. A high speed rotary transfer conveyor for shifting non-circularcontainers from a given path without change in their relativeorientation with respect to their direction of movement comprising meansfor feeding the containers along the given path in abutting relation, atransfer member rotatably mounted on a vertical axis laterally offset atone side of the path, an inner guide having a portion intersecting thepath at an obtuse angle and extending at least partially across the pathfrom the side near said axis, and a pusher arm on the transfer membermovable across said path along an are located forwardly of the rear edgeof the leading container in the path when said container is at the endof the path, said inner guide portion engaging the forward edge of theleading container while the rear end of said container is still inabutting relation with the following container and thereby turning thecontainer in response to further movement of the container by thefeeding means to an angular position in which one edge of said rear endis spaced from said following container and located within the line ofmovement of the pusher arm, before said arm crosses said path.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,245,730 Johnson et al Nov. 6, 1917 1,278,274 Winkley Sept.10, 1918 1,828,624 Sedwick Oct. 20, 1931 1,924,146 Almgren Aug. 29, 19332,258,185 Lyon Oct. 7, 1941 2,365,304 Stewart Dec. 19, 1944

